First SetBack

It was all arranged, nice surprise bonus check from work meant things were gonna happen. Sabiene was going to get fixed, new couch (ruined by unfixed cat) was going to get replaced and new spinning wheel was going to be ordered. Exciting stuff, well in my world exciting stuff.

Then one return trip into the city and *cue the scary music* the ca-thunka thunk sounds begin with every shift. Not good, paranoia sets in, right after the "Please just make it home" litany. Next day take car to mechanic. Then a second mechanic, then a third but they all say same thing transmission... and those are not cheap.

Weigh the options, new car just not in budget right now. Find a reliable mechanic referred from a friend and see what they say. Call the next day for Quote only to find out poor guy is home with pneumonia.

Have now been without a car for 10 days. finally they are able to look at it and I should be able to get it back by next Friday. But it is going to cost my entire bonus check and then some.

So once again my plans are put on hold. They will happen, just with some delay. Since I was stuck at home on sat I decided to try out the new controller and run it through a whole cycle. Fired up the torch and made my first set of beads in over a year, nothing spectacular just basic, but the flame still felt good. And the controller worked great. So now planning my next options. I think I'll play around with the enamels next to get a good feel for the colors and still pratice basic shapes.

First Progress

Three days off. One for catching up on much needed rest leaving two for attacking the studio. I had let the studio space go, it had become a dumping ground for everything I didn't feel like sorting through. Couple that with two rambunctious kitties and soon the mess becomes a disaster.

Now at first it did seem a bit overwhelming, so I broke it down in chunks, only working on one part of the room at a time. As a reward once I was done with a section I let myself stop and take a break with something fun like a quick YouTube search on tutorials to remind myself just why it was I needed to wade through this mess. And along with way discovered tons of craft video tutorials I hadn't even thought existed, so bonus.

I did take some photos to prove my progress, I was playing around with some new software and so made a slide show and uploaded to the YouTube account just to see if I could. There is still a ton left to organize with the beads and shelves but progress has been made.

The result of two days of work is that I now have a working hot glass area again, and the kiln controller is set up so now I can actually control the soaking time now. Hopefully no more slagging good beads. I now have a space I want to spend time in instead of avoiding and to me thats real progress.

Back to the beginning

This is what started it all. A skein of hand spun yarn. Not really all that remarkable, except that it is the first skein of yarn I've ever made on a spinning wheel. Now I've been a knitter for years, also a glass bead maker, miniature painter, baker and what ever else strikes my fancy, but it was this skein of yarn that made me want to clean out my studio, made me rethink my value as a crafter. 
I've only been spinning for a total of 10 hours now, but both shop owners as well as my fellow students have complemented me on the yarn I've created. And if that many people are telling me something is good I'm not going to listen anymore to that lone voice in my head filling me with doubt.
I've still got a long way to go before I get anything I consider usable for outsiders, but the act of creating the yarn is very satisfying. And I've been neglecting the creative process for too long. Lately I find myself just contemplating the idea of making something and then not following through.
This blog is an attempt at following through. I've set aside some time this next month to focus on cleaning, and reorganizing my studio. We'll see just what happens but I've decided to try and document the process in part to keep me motivated and in part as practice for later when I start making production pieces again.